The downloader will be part of a library which will be open source for a dive logging program I am writing from the ground up to be extensible (XML-based dynamic data) and look half decent. The library will likely be used by a couple of other dive logging programs in existence which are moving to WPF (I am making the library for Oceanic, Suunto and hopefully if I can get the USB download working in C# for Cressi-Sub/Seiko computers and it will be free to use). At this point, the application downloads from the dive computer and allows looking and parsing the dive data as well as saving a dump of the dive computer's memory for interrogation to perfect the parsing (since Aeris/Oceanic are reluctant to release the file structure).
The biggest issues with most dive software are common. First the are written by people without a vested interest as an add-on to their hardware. Hardware companies do NOT make good software as a general rule. They are ugly, ill-designed and hard to use. Second since there is little vested interest, they do not enjoy a lot of support. When was the last time your favorite hardware-released dive log software was updated which didn't cause a ton of new bugs or fix anything of real value?
As an alterior motive, I need to ramp up on WPF for projects at work, so this is a good way to expand my knowledge, writing as many tools and apps as I can. WinForms is pretty much old hat for me.
